forbes



Patented lali. l7, I899.

No. 6l7,730.

c. s. FORBES. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATING LAMP. 1

(Application filed July 11, 1898.)

i55,465,722!I;$5, 7 17 I v.

W II lllllllllllllllllllllllllllll llllllllllllllll ll l lll 5 g UN ETE STATES PATENT #FricE.

CHARLES srnwnn'r access, 'or STRATHDON,"SCOTLAND.

ACE TYLENE-GAS -G EN ERATING LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,730, dated January 17,1899. Applioation'filed J'uly 11,1s9a Serial No. 885,696. on mam lb all whom it m concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES STEWART FORBES,- l .ronet, a subject of the Queen of- Great Britaimresiding at Castle Newe,Strat-h- -don-by-Aberdeen, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Connected with Acetylene-Lamps; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in or connected with selflgenerating acetylenelamps, the objects I-have in view being to pro- I 5 duce a regular and steady. supply of gas with the least evolution of heat from the decomposition of the calcium carbid by the action of water in the generator and to enable the light given by the lamp to be regulated or extin- 2o guished at will, the construction of the apparatus also being such as to permit of the ready removal for cleaning or otherwise of the principal operative parts. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustratedin the ac- 2 5 companying drawings, in which Figure 1 is avertical sectional elevation of acomplete lamp and generator. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a modification: Fig. 3 is a sectional view of part of a dripping- 2 tubeon an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a plan of the cover. In the drawings (see Fig. 1) I have shown a complete lamp and generator suited for table use. The cistern 1 and its top 1 and 3 5 bottom 1", the generator 12, stem 1, and foot 1 may be cast in metal, such as brass, or they may be spun or otherwise formedin any suitable metal, such as brass or iron plate, the respective partsbeing subsequently soldered or screwed together.

All the parts of the apparatus exposed to action of the acetylene gas should be tinned. The top of the cistern 1 is theaded, as at 5, and fitted with a screwed cap or cover 2, rub- 5 her packing 16 being employed to makethe joint. This cap is fitted with wings 2 for the purpose of screwing it on or oif. It is threaded on its upper part 5 and fitted with a gas-cock 6, nipple 7, and shade-holder 8. A tube 9,

5o threaded near its lower endat 5 and packed with a washer 16,is screwed into the bottom of cistern l and rises nearly to the top of the gas vessel 4:, which is soldered into the cap 2. At a suitable point the tube 9 is drilled diagonally, as at 10, the hole threaded, as at 5 ,,and into this hole is screwed a'dripping-noz'zle 10,

whichis perforated with a very fine hole 10*, the head being nicked screwwise 10, so that it may be put in or removed with a screwdriver. I may drill and tap the tube'9 at several points, (see Fig. 3,) so thatthe height of the nozzle, and consequently the 7 pressure upon the gas, due to the head of water in the cistern, may be varied by interchanging the nozzle 10 with one or the other of the screwed plugs 10". I usually form the head of the tube 9 of hexagon or other suitable shape 9, so that v it may be screwed into or out of the base by means ofa spanner or key. Part of the base of tube 9 is cut away, as at 9*, so as to prevent any accumulation of water and to compel that flowin g through the nozzle 10 to fall in drops.

In the top of the cistern a filling-tube fitted with a screwed cap 2, perforated at 3, is inserted, and to prevent the ignition within the cistern of any acetylene gas escaping as the result of overproduction I line the base of the opening or tube with gauze 2. The base of the cistern 1 is threaded, and to this is screwed the generator 12, the joint being made with-rubber packing 16. I prefer to load the foot 1 with lead 1 F to insure steadiness.

The ope ation of this first form of my invention is as follows: The generator 12 is unscrewed, charged with carbid of calcium, and replaced. The screwed cap 2 is removed and water poured intothe cistern 1. Since the gas vessel 4 is full of air or gas, as the case may be, the water is prevented from rising in it until the cock 6 is turned on. The water then rises until the dripping-nozzle 10 is covered and falls in drops upon-the carbidbeneath, thereby liberating acetylene gas, which rises through the tube 9 and, into th 'air vessel 4, thus supplying the burner.. It the cock .be partially closed or if gas'be generated in excess or the demand, the pressure in the gas vessel increases and the headof water is lowered, so as to be below the nozale, when the further generation of gasoeeses.

- and that the particular shape of the end of the tube 9" prevents the water from flowing in upon the carbid, except in the formof drops.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modification in which the dripping-tube 9 is inserted by screwing into the base of the cistern 1. This cistern is divided by means of a diaphragm 17 in the manner shown, the only opening for the flow of water into the lower compartment being through the depending tube 20. It will be seen that the gas vesseM unites the diaphragm with the screwed cap 2 and that as a consequence the capacity of the gas vessel may upon asudden liberation of gas be antomatically increased; but since the aperture by which the water enters is of small area its rise and fall is less in proportion to its displacement, which has the efiect of producing a steadier flame.

Although I have described my improvements as applicable more particularly to table-lamps, I do not confine myself to such, as they may be used for many varying types.

. Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v "1. In combination with a water-receptacle and a gas vessel communicating with the interior thereof, a generator adapted to contain carbid of calcium and arranged below the said receptacle and a tube extending from the said generator up into the said gas ves; sel and provided with a lateral water-inlet in order that it may serve for the downward passage of water to the carbid as well as for the upward passage of gas, substantially as set forth.

2. A tube provided in its side with screwthreaded holes at difierent heights and with plugs and a nozzle adapted to fit the same for adjusting vertically at will the point of water-inlet of the said tube, in combination with a generator adapted to contain carbid of calcium and to receive the dripping from the said tube, a water-cistern and a receptacle for the gas generated by the action of the water on the carbid, there being communication between said cistern, said gas-receptacle and said tube, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with a water-cistern di vided horizontally by a diaphragm, and provided with a removable cap, a gas vessel attached toisaid cap for removal therewith and communicating with the cistern belowthe diaphragm,means of communication between the upper and lower partsof the interior of the said cistern through the said diaphragm,

a tube making communication.between the said vessel and the said generator, and a nozzle making communication below the diaphragm between the said cistern and the said tube, substantially as set forth.

. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SHARLES STEWART FORBES. Witnesses:

FRANCIS M. ROGERS, T. WArsoN WALKER. 

